Kohima: Dr. E Benrithung Patton released his new book, "Clans, Identity, and Power Politics: Insights from the Lotha-Naga Electoral Numeric," on November 13. The Associate Professor at Fazl Ali College launched the work at the college conference hall in Mokokchung. Professor Akhil Ranjan Dutta from Gauhati University served as the special guest for the event.
The book analyzes the socio-political dynamics of the Lotha-Naga people. It uses electoral data from the Wokha district spanning 1964 to 2023 to map out leadership and voting habits. Patton coins the term Pfuchipolitics to describe clan-based governance. He argues these institutions are not anti-democratic but function as systems for representation and accountability. It is a dense, data-driven look at six decades of regional history.
During the launch, college principal Dr. I Wati Imchen urged faculty to keep writing. Professor Moamenla Amer of Nagaland University reviewed the text, calling it a significant ethnographic study. Sentinaro Longkumer of 6th Finger Publishers offered remarks on the publishing process. The session concluded with prayers from Academic Dean Sam Santhosh Kumar A.
Patton noted that his writing draws from his own history with election funding and resource distribution. The author described the project as "a part of lived experience." He invites readers to offer feedback to spark further debate on these political structures. The book aims to inform both the younger generation and the elders who shaped local politics decades ago.
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